Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-16
Fitzhugh Lees Little Joke.

Washington Letter in she st. Louis Globe DEM
0crdt.
In 1861 Fitzhugh Lee, now Governor of Vir-
ginia, was commanding the Confederate out
post in Fairfax county, as Colonel of cavalry.
Col. Tannant, who was an intimate friend
and classmate of Lees at West Point, was in
command of the Union cavalry outpost near
Alexandria,. One day Tannant received
orders to advance and feel the Confederate
position in front. A battalion of men, IN AIDE
up from the departments and the CITY of
Washington, called the Presidents Body
Guard, was assigned MIN to make the ad-
vance, He said to friend before leaving:
II want soldiers with me on this expedi-
ton. l know Fitz Lee. l have slept with
body will have TO do some good fighting or
fast running. / know Fitz will fight. II |
had soldiers, and not these dress-parade fel-
lows, would be delighted to give my friend
q brush, just to let him see how nicely we can
whip him back into the Union"
In the meantime his wife had packed his
vaise with clean linen and bottle of old
Hennessey brandy. When everything was
ready Col, Tannant took up the line of march,
along the Fairfax ana Alexandria turnpike,
in the direction Of Fairfax Court House
After the command had advanced a few miles
and come to halt to rest. the Colonel ad-
dressed his men in the following words:
attention, battalion: am now speaking
to you as soldiers who have enlisted to defend
your country, and not as fellow citizens. |
want every man TODD h y duty IN the time of
you who are not willing to do this, step three
PAGES to the 'front.'"
Not man moved. They stood like a wall
of granite. This gave the Colonel much en-
couragement.
"NOw, my soldiers" said he. "with this de-
termination on your part, we Will continue
our advance and drive the enemy back or
capture the entire force"
Within a few miles of the court house they
encountered the Confederate pickets, and
succeeded in driving them back. This gave
the command new courage. On they pushed.
But, alas! Soon Turner Ashby, with his
Black Horse Cavalry, came charging on their
flank, while Fitz Lee pressed them in front
The engagement began 10 get interesting,
when suddenly Pelham's Hors Artillery un-
limbered on the lett flank, and began to pour
gall = sEe INTO TanDants ranks. He rode
TO the ffUno'-kesipg the charge against Fitz
Lee on the othefNr4, The men seeing the
situation became demoralZed and retreated
in confusion, falling back to Alexandria. The
Union forces lost a few killed and Some
prisoners, Col. Tannant's headquarter ambu-
lance was captured, with his rations ana bag
gage.
A few days after the fight a dIlapidated
team drove up to his headquarters with the
letters &c. s. A" branded on the skeleton
mules. and in dim white letters on the side of
the topless am bulance also appeared &C. g..
A. >" and the driver instead OF wearing the
blue had on suit OF gray. The driver en-
tered Col. Tannanps tent with a military sa-
lutte. bearing in his hand the Coloneps valise.
Colonel.
II came from Col. Fitz Lees headquar-
ters." was the reply. "He snapped teams
and clothes with me and told me could come
back and bring your valise, and here II is,
Colonel"
"All right, my man." said tho Colonel.
"Go 10 your quarters and change your uni
form, and report for duty"
"Col. Tannant took the valise over to his
wife's room and opened it. The contents OF
the yaliso were note. which ran in the fol-
lowing words:
"Oulpost Confederate Army, Virginia-My
Dear 'Tant: have opened your Yalise, APP
propriAted your billed shirts for a change, an
also your bottle OF old Heunessey I or a bad
cold. traded ambulances and teams also.
When You come out again bring more oom-
mlhsAry and quartermaster stores. FtTZ."
Col. Tannant kept the note until the close
OF the war, telling NO one about ~ but his
faithful and loving wife. Tannant has been
LIVING In Tennessee since the war. Recently
hc and Lee met, and the bottle Of old Hem
Messy was discussed.